A couple returning from their honeymoon were shocked to discover their house had been painted lurid pink with yellow spots, Mr Blobby style, as a prank.

Steve and Hayley O'Rourke said they were "horrified" when they arrived home, but soon saw the funny side, reported the BBC.

The paint prank was dreamed up by Mr O'Rourke's brother Russell, who spent two days transforming the house in Southend, Essex.

Mr Blobby was a character on Noel Edmonds' Saturday night variety show

It was in retaliation to a prank pulled by Steve O'Rourke, who put up a brick wall across his driveway while Russell was on his honeymoon.

The brothers outside the lurid pink house

Steve told the Essex Echo he thought painting the house pink was much more extreme, but Russell said the wall was a nightmare and had to be knocked down straight away. "I couldn't even get the suitcases in the house" he said.

The newlyweds said they may leave their house pink for some time, as Steve, a builder himself, has a backlog of work to catch up with after the wedding.

While many of the neighbours said they liked the house, one told the BBC it was a "disgusting eyesore."